.jsf syntax highlighting file (for joe editor)

I am trying to modify the .jsf syntax highlighting file for the joe editor /usr/share/joe/syntax/ini.jsf. This file contains rules for highlithing/coloring ini files. For ini files, anything after ";" should be a comment. ; comment key = value ; comment the above works OK, and joe colors everything after ";" green. However, id does not work correctly in following case: key = value ; comment In other words, it only works when there is only one space in front of the ";". I would like to fix this, but I am struggling with the syntax file structure. Following is a snippet of the relevant part of /usr/share/joe/syntax/ini.jsf: :line_start Idle * key noeat "\n" line_start " \t\r" line_start # leading spaces ";#" line_comment recolor=-1 :line_comment Comment * line_comment "\n" line_start **Can somebody please suggest how to make the necessary modification?**